South of the South

Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn’t help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I’d wanted for all times
And each night I’d spend prayin’ that God would make her mine
And if he’d only grant me this wish I wished back then
I’d never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

She wasn’t quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn’t much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he’s doin’ after all

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered
Some of God’s greatest gifts are all too often unanswered…
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Garth Brooks - Unanswered Prayers

Before my trip to Kansas City in October 2007 to help Garth Brooks sell out 9 events in two hours, I put his greatest hits on my mp3 player for what I thought was strictly research purposes. That quickly changed to amusement, entertainment, and enjoyment when the above song came on - about running into a busted crush/ex and thanking God his prayers to be with her forever went unanswered. I know Garth Brooks has a comedic side (see: SNL host/guest star; Chris Gaines persona), but this song struck me as funny as something that could have been written by Mel Brooks.